The Head of the Departnt of Magical Law Enforcent was dead?
This was the highest-ranking murder case so far.
And then sothing even more frightening erged.
The attack on the Weasleys had only been the beginning.
Alia Bones was dead.
The situation escalated.
Those paying close attention began to analyze the incident, and suddenly noticed sothing.
There might be a reason behind Alia's death.
An investigation.
And everyone knew who Alia had been investigating all along…
Johnny Silverhand!
…
"I knew it, I knew it—anyone who goes against him never ends well!"
"He wiped out five families, and now he's even gone after a senior Ministry official."
"The Weasleys? Who's to say that wasn't his doing too!"
The pure-blood families knew far more about what had happened to the five families than anyone else.
And because of that, they were terrified.
In their eyes, Johnny Silverhand had already beco a dictator.
Any voice of opposition would be silenced by death.
Panic spread through the magical world.
Barty Crouch Sr. was driven to a headache by the constant noise from every side. He still couldn't believe that his political rival, Alia Bones, had died just like that.
Those voices kept flooding his mind. His expression darkened, fear flickering in his eyes. "Was it you, John?" He muttered to himself.
He thought of the five families, then of the Weasleys, and now Alia Bones.
Their one common thread was the Dark Mark used to fra Johnny Silverhand.
And that realization was frightening.
Everyone believed it was Johnny Silverhand.
"Assassinating the Head of the Departnt of Magical Law Enforcent—this is an extrely serious accusation."
Barty Crouch Sr. paced back and forth, his thoughts in complete turmoil.
Whether to trust John, or to give rise to suspicion, left him unable to calm himself at all.
"Pius, tell —what should I do?"
Now promoted to a senior Ministry official, Pius Thicknesse sat in Barty Crouch Sr.'s private residence, his face grim.
This smooth, ever-adaptable bureaucrat was stumped by Barty's question.
Even he could no longer give his superior a definitive answer.
"The pure-blood families have started revisiting the deaths of the five families," Pius said thoughtfully. "The Bones family holds great prestige among the pure-bloods. They made enormous contributions during Voldemort's era."
"So what?" Barty slamd the table, shouting, "What are you trying to say?"
"With all due respect, Minister Crouch," Pius said steadily, "how likely do you think it is that Johnny Silverhand was involved? We all know who possesses both the capability—and the motive."
Pius's words tore open the truths Barty was unwilling to face.
He slowly sank back into his chair, the pent-up heaviness in his chest escaping in thin breaths.
Pius did not press him. He simply watched in silence.
A long silence.
"Minister Crouch, we have to accept reality," Pius said at last.
"Reality?" Barty gave a self-mocking laugh. "I thought he and I would be friends."
"He's too narrow-minded," Pius said, a flicker of sothing strange passing through his eyes. "Despite your repeated insistence that he not target the pure-bloods… it seems he never took you seriously at all."
"Johnny Silverhand possesses imasurable wealth, well-trained private security, and even desperadoes willing to work for him."
Pius spoke with rising intensity. "His very existence is the greatest threat. If one day the Minister of Magic can't satisfy him, would he replace the Minister instead?"
"Oh.. and ..He's done that before, Minister Crouch."
Layer by layer, blood-soaked truths were torn open.
Barty Crouch Sr. seed convinced. In a hoarse voice, he said, "I know what to do now. Thank you, Pius."
Seeing that Barty had been persuaded, Pius finally relaxed, a faint smile appearing on his face. "We're on the sa side, Minister Crouch."
Barty rose and walked Pius out.
Standing at the doorway, Barty watched Pius's retreating figure and suddenly sensed that sothing was wrong.
His gaze fell on Pius's lowered left index finger—where a ring should have been.
"Pius, where's your ring?"
Pius stopped. The smile vanished from his face.
Turning back expressionlessly, he said coldly, "Did you really have to point that out, Minister Crouch?"
Barty's expression changed. The instant the other man drew his wand, he moved to slam the door shut.
His~~
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